Mapoe moves to right wing for Lions
There were very few surprises when Emirates Lions coach Johan Ackermann announced his first line-up for the weekend Super Rugby opener against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The 2016 losing finalists get their Super Rugby campaign underway against the Toyota Cheetahs with a strong squad boasting eight Springboks in the run-on side..
Warren Whiteley leads an experienced side on the field which will see Lionel Mapoe moving on to the right wing as cover for the injured Ruan Combrinck, who is still recovering from a shoulder operation.
Another speedster, Courtnall Skosan, starts on the opposite wing.
Johannes Jonker is the only unfamiliar face and could make his debut off the bench.
Kwagga Smith, who has been released by the Springbok Sevens squad and will divert his focus to Super Rugby, will also make an appearance of the bench if he takes the field.
Lions head coach Johan Ackermann, a stickler for continuity, says their biggest challenge as a group is to continue doing what they have in the past three years, a stretch under Ackermann's watch which brought them a Currie Cup title and a runners-up berth in Super Rugby.
He said he had based his decision to move Mapoe to right wing based on his exceptional versatility as a backline player.
Hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld will captain the Cheetahs in the absence of regular skipper Francois Venter, who remains in the crocked list with an ankle injury.
Kick-Off is at 15h05
Lions: 1. Jacques van Rooyen, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 4. Andries Ferreira, 5. Franco Mostert, 6. Jaco Kriel, 7. Ruan Ackermann, 8. Warren Whiteley (c), 9. Faf de Klerk, 10. Elton Jantjies, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 13. Howard Mnisi, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 15. Andries Coetzee.
Reserves: 16. Akker vd Merwe, 17. Corné Fourie, 18. Johannes Jonker (debut), 19. Lourens Erasmus, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Ross Cronjé, 22. Harold Vorster, 23. Jaco vd Walt.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Paul Schoeman, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Uzair Cassiem, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (captain), 1 Charles Marais
Reserves: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Ox Nche, 19 Francois Uys, 20 Niell Jordaan, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Niel Marais, 23 Ryno Benjamin.